Dwarf Chain Loach Health And Feeding

[Miles_hot]

we have had 6 dwarf chain loaches for 2 weeks or so now and they coloured up beautify when we got them into the tank however they now seem to our paranoid eyes to be losing some of the glossy black on their backs. The strip down the side is still glossy blank however the chain on the back appears more grey than glossy black.

They are in a tank with 1 tiger barbs and are brilliant at holding their own against them - the two groups pretty much ignore each other now but at the beginning the loaches were scattering the tiger shoal all the time

The only issue I can see is that the loaches don't seem to know what food is. They don't appear to go for the sinking granual food which we put in (the meaty bit) now do they go for the Veg flakes. They also ignore (an in a few cases sit on) the sinking pellet which the shop sold as good for them when we bought the loaches.

Certainly some are getting much bigger than when we bought them, others we're less sure of however that's probably just paranoia. We assume that they're feeding off detritus at the bottom as they are certainly spending time "cleaning" rocks and branches and digging in the sand - when they're not chasing the heck out of each other!.

Is it normal for there to be a colour difference between the side line and the main pattern
Have you any favourite food which loaches find naturally appealing that we can see them eat or is this foraging only behaviour 100% natural and positive?

Many thanks

Miles

 

[Miles_hot]

no one? That's a first for here

 

[Tizer]

If they are not dead, im sure they are doing fine!

 

[HayzH]

no one? That's a first for here

i'm sure someone with experience will be here later to answer your questions xx

 

[Miles_hot]

Good grief Tizer what are you - a front line battle nurse?

 

[fluttermoth]

I had these years ago and from what I can remember their backs became more greyish as they grew, so I wouldn't worry.

Have you tried them on some frozen bloodworm?

 

[Tizer]

Good grief Tizer what are you - a front line battle nurse?

ya man, if it aint dead, dont worry about it

 

[Essjay]

I have dwarf chain loaches. The black is the same all over with mine. Occasionally two will 'size up' to each other, and then they'll go white with very pale grey markings.

My loaches definitley know what food is. As a staple I feed Tetra Pro flakes and tetra Prima sinking pellets. They eat both of these with one of the loaches even eating from the surface. I also feed frozen live food and peas, both of which they enjoy. Occasionally I feed half a tablet of Nutrafin Max. This is the only food where the loaches click while eating it.
Foraging is normal with these loaches, particularly after they've been fed. They bounce around the bottom of the tank looking for any food they can find.

Yes Iknow I should have sand in the tank, but this gravel is quite fine and the loaches don't seem to have problem with it.

 

[Miles_hot]

Thanks Essjay - so the fact that they've pretty much all gone pale on top would probably be due to the squabbles going on at the moment?

Thanks for the suggestion on foods - I'll try some of these (maybe it'll manage to sneek past the greedy tigers?

Miles

 

[fluttermoth]

That may be a problem! Tigers are so darn greedy Try putting some in at one end for the tigers and then put some right down on (or even in) the sand for the loach. Or just flood the tank with bloodworm and then don't feed for a couple of days...

 

[Tizer]

I have to do that with mine, i defrost 5 cubes and spread it around the tank, greedy Tigers

 

[Miles_hot]

I have dwarf chain loaches. The black is the same all over with mine. Occasionally two will 'size up' to each other, and then they'll go white with very pale grey markings.

My loaches definitley know what food is. As a staple I feed Tetra Pro flakes and tetra Prima sinking pellets. They eat both of these with one of the loaches even eating from the surface. I also feed frozen live food and peas, both of which they enjoy. Occasionally I feed half a tablet of Nutrafin Max. This is the only food where the loaches click while eating it.
Foraging is normal with these loaches, particularly after they've been fed. They bounce around the bottom of the tank looking for any food they can find.

Essjay

Can you give some more details of the foods you mention as doing a google on them presents many different options between fish, veg, etc etc. Sorry to be thick but we're new to all this!

Thanks

miles

 

[Essjay]

My loaches are in a community tank, so I feed food that they can all eat. The main ones I use are

Flakes
http/www.tetra-fish.co.uk/tetra/go/7B4ECF09E015134C75F28D2C1E29DCAE/?seite=7&group_id=135&group_2_id=11&lang_id=20

Sinking granules (though they do take a couple of minutes to sink so your barbs might get them first - soak them before feeding and they'll sink faster)
http/www.tetra-fish.co.uk/tetra/go/7B4ECF09E015134C75F28D2C1E29DCAE/?seite=7&group_id=197&group_2_id=11&lang_id=20

And for a treat the loaches get
http/www.seapets.co.uk/products/aquarium-supplies/aquarium-fish-food/tropical-fish-food/nutrafin-tropical-fish-food/nutrafin-max-bottom-feeder-sinking-tablets-60g.html
These do sink pretty quickly as they are about 7mm across and quite heavy.


I also feed frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia.